Travel Roundup: Passengers Sue Continental, FedEx Buys Boeing, Greyhound's Meningitis Scare and More
Two passengers sue Continental Airlines and pilots in Denver runway crash — Two passengers on a Continental Airlines flight that veered off a Denver International Airport runway and crash-landed in a ravine last month, filed a lawsuit against the carrier. Melissa Craft, 25, and Emily Pellegrini, 21, both of Texas, allege the flight’s pilot “negligently aborted” the Dec. 20 flight just after takeoff. The flight was bound for Houston before it crashed into a neighboring ravine and burst into flames. Out of the 110 passengers and five crew members, 37 were injured. The women’s complaint names both Continental and two pilots. It is believed to be the first lawsuit in the crash. [Source: Associated Press]
FedEx orders 15 new Boeing 777s — FedEx ordered 15 new Boeing 777 freighters, according to a regulatory filing earlier this week, at the bargain purchase price of $2.8 billion over 10 years. (The list price is $3.75 billion.) The first four freighters are scheduled to be delivered in FedEx’s fiscal year beginning in June. Another four will be delivered the next fiscal year, than another three until the deliveries are completed in 2019. FedEx also has an option to purchase another 15 of the jets. [Source: Seattle Times]
Greyhound bus meningitis scare — A passenger on a Greyhound bus that traveled from Denver to Portland, Ore. Sunday died of meningitis and health officials are trying to locate the approximately 24 passengers who shared the bus. The passenger was taken off the bus in Salt Lake City and died at nearby hospital. Idaho state health workers are searching for other passengers on the bus that traveled to Southwest Idaho. Health officials in other states are conducting similar investigations. Those on the bus were likely exposed to meningitis during the early part of the journey, officials said. [Source: Idaho Press-Tribune]
New CEO at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino – Thomas J. McCartney was appointed president and chief executive officer of the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, taking the place of Michael V. Mecca, who resigned. McCartney was recently an executive vice president of the Luxor hotel and casino. He also played a part in the opening and rebranding of the New York-New York Hotel & Casino. [Source: Las Vegas Sun]
Bay Area resident and award-winning business journalist Barbara E. Hernandez has covered tourism, real estate and personal finance. Her clients include the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle and Washington Post.
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